Hyper Light Drifter

Hyper Light Drifter
Developer(s) Heart Machine
Director(s) Alex Preston
Designer(s) Alex Preston
Beau Blyth
Teddy Dief
Casey Hunt
Lisa Brown
Programmer(s) Beau Blyth
Teddy Dief
Artist(s) Alex Preston
Sean Ward
Cosimo Galluzzi
Composer(s) Disasterpeace
Akash Thakkar
Engine Game Maker
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Ouya
Release date(s)

Windows, OS X, Linux

  • WW March 31, 2016

PlayStation 4, Xbox One

  • WW Mid-2016
Genre(s) Action role-playing game
Mode(s) Single-player
Two-player co-op (Beta)

Hyper Light Drifter is a 2D action role-playing game developed by Heart Machine. The game is an homage to 8-bit and 16-bit games of the late 20th century, and is considered by its lead developer Alex Preston as a combination of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Diablo. Preston originally launched Kickstarter funding for the title for approximately US$27,000 to develop the title for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux computers, but ended up with more than US$600,000, allowing him to hire more programmers and artists, and expanding the title for console and portable platforms through stretch goals. Though originally scoped for release in 2014, various improvements in the game and issues with Preston's health set the release back. The Microsoft Windows and OS X versions were released on March 31, 2016, with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions to follow in mid-2016, and to other platforms including the PlayStation Vita at a later date.[1]

Gameplay and story

Hyper Light Drifter is a 2D action role-playing game fashioned after The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, rendered in a pixelated style comparable to Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP. The player controls the Drifter, a character that has access to technology that has long been forgotten by the inhabitants of the game's world and is suffering from an unspecified illness. The story concept was inspired by lead developer Alex Preston's heart disease,[2] and has been likened by others to Studio Ghibli's Castle in the Sky,[3] while Preston cites the studio's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind as inspiration for the game's world.[4]

The Drifter is equipped with an energy sword, but can gain access to other modules that expand his weapon and ability arsenal. These often require power from rare batteries scattered around the world. Weaponry includes traditional console role-playing game archetypes, including long-range guns and area attacks.[4] The player faces increasingly difficult monsters, both in number and ability, requiring the player to hone their tactics to succeed in the game. Preston's goal was to replicate the experience of playing on the SNES, noting that the unit had "amazing, almost perfect games designed for limited environments" which he challenged himself to simulate in Hyper Light Drifter.[4] One facet of SNES games that Preston has captured is that there will be no spoken dialog, placing more emphasis on the game's music and visuals to tell a story.[4]

Development

Alex Preston had yearned to develop a game that combined the best elements of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Diablo for many years, which would feature world exploration and combat that required some strategy by the player depending on foes they faced. After several years of being an animator, he felt he could do so in 2013.[5] He originally set out to make the game for Windows, OS X, and Linux computers, and started a Kickstarter campaign in September 2013 to secure US$27,000 in funding to complete the title. Prior to starting the campaign, Preston had secured the help of programmer Beau Blyth who created titles like Samurai Gunn, and musician Disasterpeace, who worked on the music for Fez.[6]

The project funding was exceeded in a day, and quickly grew over US$100,000 within a few days of its launch.[6] To encourage additional funding, Preston created new stretch goals, including additional game play modes, more bosses and characters, and expanding the release to include the PlayStation 4 and Vita, the Ouya, and the Wii U consoles. These goals were all met by the completion of the campaign, with more than US$640,000 raised.[7] Preston stated that he had had these additional platforms in mind when first launching the Kickstarter, but did not want to overpromise what he felt he could deliver.[5] The additional funds have helped Preston hire additional developers to aid in porting the game to these additional consoles.[5] The game will also be released for the Xbox One.[8]

The game was originally set for release in mid-2014, but since has been delayed until the second quarter of 2016, due to the expanded scope of the game, the need to perfect the game before its first release, and developer's health issues.[9][10] Preston had previously spoken on how his long-term health problems had influenced the direction of the game, and even inspired the name of his team, Heart Machine.[11] With the most recent delay announced in August 2015, Heart Machine said that they will plan to release the Windows and OS X version first with the console versions shortly thereafter once they clear the console certification processes.[10] In February 2016, Heart Machine revealed that there are currently contractual issues between Nintendo and YoYo Games, the developer of the Game Maker engine, beyond their control that may prevent the game from being ported to the Wii U, and while they hope they can offer this platform at the end, they have considered the Wii U version "in limbo."[12]

Several patches have been applied to the game since its initial release. One of these patches made the game slightly easier, in response to feedback about the game's difficulty. This patch made a number of minor changes to the game, most notable of which was the addition of a brief period of invincibility when the player uses the Dash mechanic. The reduction in difficulty lead to debate amongst the game's fan community, split between those who liked the new patch, and those who preferred the old, more challenging version. Three days after this patch, the developers re-balanced the game to add back some of the difficulty.[13][14]

A mode featuring two-player co-op gameplay was planned during the initial development of the game, and was intended to be a feature at launch, but it was cut due to time constraints. On April 27, a beta version of the co-op mode was released, and will be incorporated into the main release of the game in the future.[15][16][17]

Reception and legacy

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings(PC) 87/100[18]
Metacritic(PC) 86/100[19]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid9/10[20]
Eurogamer[21]
Game Informer9.5/10[22]
GameSpot9/10[23]
IGN7.6/10[24]
PC Gamer (US)78/100[25]
Polygon8.5/10[26]

Hyper Light Drifter received critical acclaim upon its release, with rating of 86/100 on Metacritic.[19] Common praise has been given to the game's visuals, sound design, and combat mechanics. Kyle Hilliard of Game Informer awarded the game a 9.5/10, claiming that the game "has already positioned itself as one of the best experiences of the year."[22] Brandin Tyrrel of IGN called the game a "gorgeous, trendy hunk of stylish old-school sensibilities mated with the iconic hues of pixelated indie charm."[24] Christian Donian of Eurogamer praised the game's "intoxicating" atmosphere, as well as Disasterpeace's "typical delight" of a soundtrack.[21] Kevin VanOrd of GameSpot cites the game's art direction as "rich and thoughtful," and comments on its "fluid, demanding, and fair" combat system.[23]

Mixed criticism commonly falls upon the minimalism of the game's storytelling method. Tyrrel points out its "abstract storytelling" as a con,[24] while Griffin McElroy of Polygon claims that the game's story is replaced with "moods," and "quiet moments with constant scenes of breakneck, pitch-perfect action."[26]

The game was named as an honorable mention for the Excellence in Visual Art award for the 2015 Independent Games Festival.[27]

The Drifter is a playable character in the Wii U-exclusive game Runbow, and will be featured as a playable character in Hex Heroes for the Wii U.[28]

References

  1. ↑ Nakamura, Darren (2016-03-22). "HYPER LIGHT DRIFTER WILL RELEASE ON PC MARCH 31". Destructoid. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
  2. ↑ Grayson, Nathan (2013-11-07). "How A Lifetime Of Heart Disease Birthed Hyper Light Drifter". Rock, Paper, Shotgun.
  3. ↑ Bogos, Steven (2013-09-14). "Hyper Light Drifter Is Diablo Meets Laputa". Escapist. Retrieved 2013-09-14.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Correia, Alexa Rae (2014-03-18). "The cold comfort of Hyper Light Drifter". Polygon. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  5. 1 2 3 Webster, Andrew (2013-10-09). "'Hyper Light Drifter' is a dark and stunning take on classic 16-bit games". The Verge. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  6. 1 2 Hawkins, Matthew (2013-09-17). "'Hyper Light Drifter' Is A Game Worth Kickstarting". MTV. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  7. ↑ Crossley, Rob (2013-10-11). "Hyper Light Drifter coming to Wii U". Computer & Video Games. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  8. ↑ "GDC: ID@Xbox Games First Look". news.xbox.com. 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2014-09-15.
  9. ↑ Matulef, Jeffrey (2014-02-03). "Hyper Light Drifter delayed until the "holiday season"". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  10. 1 2 Matulef, Jeffrey (August 26, 2015). "Hyper Light Drifter delayed again, now due "spring 2016"". Eurogamer. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  11. ↑ Nathan Grayson (2013-11-07). "How A Lifetime Of Heart Disease Birthed Hyper Light Drifter". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
  12. ↑ Devore, Jordan (2016-02-17). "Hyper Light Drifter might not make it to Wii U". Destructoid. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  13. ↑ Miller, Daniel R. (26 April 2016). "Hyper Light Drifter received a patch that made the game easier". www.gamezone.com. GameZone Next. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  14. ↑ Klepek, Patrick (20 April 2016). "The Contentious Debate Over Whether To Make Hyper Light Drifter Easier". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "Local CO-OP Beta Available NOW". steamcommunity.com. Valve Corporation. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  16. ↑ Sarkar, Samit (27 April 2016). "Hyper Light Drifter gets co-op mode in beta". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  17. ↑ Prescott, Shaun (28 April 2016). "Hyper Light Drifter local co-op beta is now available". pcgamer.com. Future US, Inc. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  18. ↑ "Hyper Light Drifter for PC on GameRankings". GameRankings. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  19. 1 2 "Hyper Light Drifter for PC on Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  20. ↑ Rowen, Nic (April 13, 2016). "Review: Hyper Light Drifter". Destructoid. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  21. 1 2 Donian, Christian (April 6, 2016). "Hyper Light Drifter review". Eurogamer. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  22. 1 2 Hilliard, Kyle (April 13, 2016). "Hyper Light Drifter". Game Informer. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  23. 1 2 VanOrd, Kevin (April 6, 2016). "Hyper Light Drifter". GameSpot. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  24. 1 2 3 Tyrrel, Brandin (April 13, 2016). "Hyper Light Drifter Review". IGN. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  25. ↑ Kelly, Andy (April 1, 2016). "Hyper Light Drifter review". PC Gamer. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  26. 1 2 McElroy, Griffin (April 6, 2016). "Hyper Light Drifter review". Polygon. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  27. ↑ "2015 Independent Games Festival announces Main Competition finalists". Gamasutra. January 7, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  28. ↑ Speer, Josh (2014-04-14). "Crowdfunding Spotlight: Hex Heroes". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved 2014-04-18.

External links

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